Description
(formerly just ‘variegatum‘)
There are many variegated forms of Disporum smilacinum in Japan, where variegation is highly esteemed. Some are simply lined or edged with white but the form offered is the best of all of them. It is it a very good plant indeed. We sold this initially as just ‘variegatum‘ and said that we thought it might turn out to be ‘Dai Setsu Rai‘ but it is in fact ‘Ki Naka Fu‘.
The leaves are largely creamy-yellow, just thinly edged with green, towards the base and it is the most strongly variegated of the Japanese forms. Nevertheless this is still a strong-growing plant. In addition it is completely stable with no tendency to revert to all-green forms.
As the season progresses then the colour of the variegation slowly changes from yellow to cream. In early summer there is an added bonus of hanging white “tiffany” lampshade flowers, with yellow anthers. This plant spreads very slowly, by underground offsets, but both these and mature roots are naturally very small, so please be warned that they do not look impressive upon arrival! Easy in humus-rich soil in shade.
